Ladies in Red: Hospital volunteers keep a tradition alive

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By Kevin Dickinson

Siskiyou Daily News, Yreka, CA

By Kevin Dickinson

Posted Jul. 26, 2013 at 3:20 PM

By Kevin Dickinson
Posted Jul. 26, 2013 at 3:20 PM

YREKA

When patients enter the hospital, the first help they are likely to receive comes courtesy of the Fairchild Medical Center Auxiliary burgundy-clad volunteers keeping a more than 50-year-old tradition alive.

"A lot of people come into the auxiliary for personal reasons: they're bored, they want to be around people, they want to be with their friends," said auxiliary president Robin Watson.

She continued, "And what happens is those needs are fulfilled, but then it grows even bigger. They find that they really can make a difference; they really, truly can give back to their community. It isn't just a trite little cliché."

Auxiliary volunteers currently manage the hospital's front desk and gift shop and help in the emergency department and medical surgical unit.

A recent addition to the lineup is the Van Driver program, a service where volunteers shuttle patients who cannot otherwise find a ride to and from the hospital.

Watson commented there are many aspects of volunteer work aimed at helping the staff, noting that the front desk has begun assisting in the registration process to cut down on the wait.

The auxiliary also helps Fairchild financially. Gaynell Irvine, an auxiliary volunteer, explained that one of the best parts of working in the hospital's gift shop is the "Wish List" program.

The Wish List uses money earned from the gift shop and other sale events to buy much-needed or updated equipment for Fairchild's various departments. Auxiliary liaison Deanna Severn stated that last year the program raised $25,000 for the wish list. It already has $30,000 available this year.

The volunteer program was originally part of the Red Cross's gray ladies – so named for their colored uniforms. Marcia Churchill, the last of the original gray ladies, said the Red Cross limited what the group could do to help the patients in certain situations; in turn, Churchill, along with others such as Marge Foster, Louise Smith and Nancy Thompson, began the auxiliary in 1962.

"I think it's marvelous where we came from and what we are today," said Churchill.

June Girdner, former auxiliary president and current member, joined the group in 1978 when the program operated out of the Siskiyou General Hospital on Main Street. Without a person in the ER and a front desk, she recalled that original services included reading to the patients, writing letters for the them and running a gift trolley from room to room to deliver amenities such as candy, toothpaste, combs, newspapers and magazines.

"In the back of our minds is 'What can we do?'" said Girdner, noting the auxiliary is always looking for ways to expand the scope of its services.

Severn commented that, perhaps due to the program's history, there's an impression the auxiliary is only for retired people. "That absolutely is not the case," she said.

Page 2 of 2 - The program is not only for a particular demographic: Mothers, married couples and students who one day wish to join the medical profession have all been numbered among the Auxiliary volunteers. Right now, the youngest member is 19 while its oldest is nearly 90.

"When a woman or a man or a student – a person – comes into the Auxiliary, they come in as themselves," said Girdner, explaining they are not representing any political, religious or business agenda.

To date, the auxiliary has devoted nearly 500,000 total volunteer hours. Last year, the program's members put in more than 15,000 hours, and as of June this year, they have already committed 6,500. Many of its long-term members have put in more than 10,000 hours individually.

The program is currently staffed with 60 active members and 60 associate members. Of those, 16 members are van drivers who have already assisted more than 700 patients.

To contact the auxiliary program for information or to volunteer, contact the auxiliary's 1st vice president Judy Baker by calling Fairchild Medical Center at (530) 842-4121 and asking to speak to the front desk.

To volunteer for the van driver program, contact coordinator Bob Vance at 598-7572.